Feb 8, 2010 9:19:51 AM

The NCAA has created the NCAA Bob Frederick Sportsmanship Award and has recognized Frederick, the late former athletics administrator at Kansas, as the inaugural recipient.

The award, which annually honors an NCAA administrator who shows the highest respect for intercollegiate athletics, was presented to Frederick's family at the February 6 men's basketball game at Kansas, where he was athletics director for nearly 15 years. Frederick died June 12, 2009, from injuries sustained in a bicycling accident.

Designed to serve as a companion to the already established NCAA Sportsmanship Award for student-athletes, the new honor is open to Divisions I, II and III administrators, as well as administrators at NCAA-affiliated organizations. Eligible candidates should demonstrate respect for competition, student-athletes, coaches and officials; encourage student-athletes to demonstrate positive sportsmanship; and act with integrity. The NCAA Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct administers both the new and previously existing sportsmanship awards.

"Bob embodied the values of integrity, civility, honesty and responsibility as evidenced by his work here at Kansas as a coach, director of athletics, faculty member and more," said John Blanchard, senior associate athletics director at North Carolina and chair of the sportsmanship committee. He joined NCAA Vice President Robert Vowels in presenting the award. 

After a two-year stint as athletics director at Illinois State, Frederick accepted the same position at his alma mater, Kansas, where he directed the Jayhawks' athletics programs from 1987 to 2001. A highly respected athletics administrator, he was an original member of the NCAA Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct and a former member of the Committee on Women's Athletics.

After stepping down at Kansas, Frederick continued to teach sports management and law courses at the university and worked as a consultant for Sports Management Resources, a firm established by former Women's Sports Foundation Executive Director Donna Lopiano.

The Sportsmanship Committee will begin taking nominations for the 2010 Bob Frederick Sportsmanship Award this fall. For more information, visit www.ncaa.org/sportsmanship or contact Sarah MacInnis, NCAA assistant director of educational affairs, at smacinnis@ncaa.org.